On Saturday March 2, 2019 the 47th Iditarod will kick off. The dog mushing race covers over 1000 miles of the roughest terrain from Anchorage, in south central Alaska, to Nome on the western coast of the Bering Sea. The harsh conditions include: jagged mountain ranges, thick forest, barren tundra and miles of windswept coast, add in the frigid temperatures and some whiteout conditions and you have an extreme challenge that has been dubbed The Last Great Race. Catskill, New York native Ken Hamm attempted this feat in 1983 at the age of 32. He says his move to Alaska is what sparked his interest in the sport.
This year’s race begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday March 2, 2019. For more information from the Iditarod Trail Committee on the race, participants and progress visit www.iditarod.com
Postcards From the Road is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio. I’m your host and producer Elizabeth Hill. Our Theme music is Cherry Blossom Wonders by Kevin MacLeod. As always if you like what you hear subscribe on your audio app of choice, visit wamcpodcasts.org for more information. If you would like to share your travel story with WAMC email us, at Postcards@wamc.org